USC hosts top recruits - Gabe Long commits

Garry Paskwietz

01/23/2005

The USC Trojan coaching staff held their final big recruiting weekend of the year by hosting several top prospects on campus this past weekend. Click below for a listing of recruits and activities including a verbal from junior college defensive lineman Gabe Long:

The USC Trojan coaching staff held their final big recruiting weekend of the year by hosting several top prospects on campus this past weekend.

The trip began on Friday afternoon when the recruits and their parents took part in the national championship ceremony on the USC campus to honor the Trojan football team. Recruits and their parents were allowed to walk-through the line of Trojan fans before joining the current players and coaches on stage for the actual ceremony.

Gabe Long had given a verbal commit to the USC coaches during an in-home visit just prior to the ceremony and he said "I felt like a kid in a candy store" when he got to hold the championship crystal ball.

Saturday was filled with events such as the campus tour, academic meetings and the traditional visit to the Papadakis Taverna for dinner. It was a festive atmosphere at the Taverna, as usual, with Brown dancing with restaurant owner John Papapdakis and all in attendance had a great time.

The recruits and their parents went to breakfast this morning with Pete Carroll and the Trojan coaches for the final event of the recruiting weekend. When Desean Jackson walked in there were extended hugs with all the coaches, later Kevin Myers and his family went into a seperate area with Coach Carroll and came out to clapping, hugs and more smiles. We'll get an update from Kevin as soon as we can to get the full report on his status. Desean and Cary Harris are scheduled to announce on the Fox signing day show February 2nd.

With the verbal from Long that now puts the Trojans at 12 confirmed commits for the Class of 2005.